On March 8 International Women’s Day, the 4-part documentary series Women of This Land, premiered on CBC Gem.
Directed by Stephanie Joline, Women Of This Land is a co-production between Princess Space Monster Films and Peep Media’s Jessica Brown and Jackie Torrens in association with CBC Maritimes, with the participation of the Indigenous Screen Office and support from Screen Nova Scotia and the Content Creator Fund.
Women of This Land highlights four incredibly powerful, resilient and influential Indigenous women – Elder Imelda Perley Opolahsomuwehs, Chief Darlene Bernard, Jennie Williams, and shalan joudry – from each province in Atlantic Canada and how they connect to land and language.
Shannon Webb-Campbell: What inspired the series Women of This Land?
Stephanie Joline: I love working with women, lifting each other up and being supportive of one another. I also love working with Indigenous people, so it was an easy idea for me. It seemed like a great idea for a series. I started pitching it about three years ago, and we started filming almost a year ago.
Shannon: As director/producer and a resilient Inuk woman, can you share your vision for this 4-part documentary series?
Stephanie: I wanted to spotlight uplifting and inspiring stories, offering viewers a glimpse into the lives of remarkable women. By highlighting their resilience and unique experiences, we celebrate their voices.
Shannon: Why do you believe the stories and lives of these Indigenous women, in particular, are important for you to share with the broader public?
Stephanie: It is important to share the stories of Indigenous women authentically, directly from Indigenous voices themselves. By sharing the stories of Indigenous women, we not only honour their voices but also provide a platform for their experiences to be heard and understood. These stories contribute to understanding Indigenous cultures and connections across Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities.
Shannon: Women of This Land is co-produced by you, Jessica Brown and Jackie Torrens. Can you tell me a bit of background about this collaboration and why you chose to work with Jessica and Jackie?
Stephanie: Jessica and Jackie from Peep Media have a lot of experience in the world of filmmaking, especially documentaries. I have been a director for a lot longer than I have been a producer. I love being a producer on some of my work now; at this point in my career, I feel I know a bit about producing, but I always need support from others in that area. I approached Peep Media to come on board as partners because of their success in the industry and also because they are both strong, resilient, talented women. Making this series with all female producers just felt right. Jackie also serves as a story editor on the project, and her experience in that area was extremely valuable, flushing out the stories and ideas for each episode.
Shannon: The first episode of Women of This Land shares Inuk artist and drummer Jennie Williams story about reclaiming her Inuit culture, raising six children, living in St. John’s, NL (while continuing to return home to Labrador to be with the land), as well as touches on bullying/ lateral violence.
Can you share why the lived realities of bullying/lateral violence was important for the documentary film to touch on?
Stephanie: Jennie has experienced a lot of lateral violence/bullying in recent years, and when I started researching that episode, I was mainly interested in her work as an artist and teacher. When I realized what she was going through, we talked about how much of that to include. We felt it wasn’t necessary to focus too much on that part because it would give power and attention to those bullying her. But we did mention it a little bit because it was important not to ignore that aspect of what she was going through (and is still going through). I expect that when this show airs, she (and maybe even I) will get some words from these bullies, but we are not afraid of that.
I find this topic of lateral violence especially disheartening. Indigenous people have been treated so poorly in colonial society; we should be sticking together and lifting each other up, not pulling each other down. I think if someone is not Indigenous and they are pretending they are and taking resources from communities in which they don’t belong, then that is wrong, and it should be stopped. However, Jennie has a cultural connection, DNA proof, and family ties, so the fact that some people don’t think she shouldn’t be teaching is ridiculous, in my opinion.
Shannon: The second episode examines the calling of Chief Darlene Bernard from Lennox Island, PEI and her plight as a strong leader in her community.
Why is Darlene’s story important to share?
Stephanie: It’s interesting to see four women all at different places in their journeys. The Chief is toward the end of her career as the official leader of her community; she speaks about what she hopes for the future of Lennox Island. Her passion for her community is palpable; she really loves her role, and I think that comes through in her episode. Unfortunately, the episode is only a half-hour, so we couldn’t get into all of the remarkable things she has accomplished as Chief, but I think it’s a nice snapshot of where she is now. Also, it may teach other Canadians about Lennox Island, who might not be aware of that community.
Shannon: Episode three of Women of This Land illustrates the poetic and intimate dynamics of Mi’kmaw storyteller and ecologist shalan joudry, who is based in Bear River First Nation, and her journey of healing.
With elements of ecology, poetry, theatre and performance, what do you hope viewers take away from shalan’s story?
Stephanie: shalan really does so many things; it was easy to find events to film with her. We caught her in action at various events, and it’s awesome to see how she weaves her love for the land into everything she does. You can really feel where she gets her inspiration from. It’s a reminder of how nature, culture, and personal healing are all intertwined, and how shalan navigates that journey is truly something special.
Shannon: In the final episode of Women of This Land viewers meet Imelda Perley Opolahsomuwehs, a revered Wolastoqey Elder and linguist from Tobique First Nation, New Brunswick. Her story is filled with healing, teachings and shares her gifts as a Language Keeper.
Personally, I found her story made me the most emotional and teary, as her journey of healing comes a place of lived wisdom.
What do you hope sharing Imelda’s story does for future generations?
Stephanie: Imelda is so interesting, in many ways she is what I hope to be someday. The way she speaks to you makes you feel so special because she cares and really is listening and interested. You know how some people have that quality? It’s something that I admire. She has the sweet grandma vibes, but she is also very punk rock and cool. I felt privileged to get a glimpse into her world as an Elder and language keeper. Some of these ceremonial practices are often private so the fact we got such an intimate glimpse into her world feels really special. I hope young people, future generations and everybody sees how valuable women are in society, especially as we age. It was refreshing to hear a point of view from a woman who embraces aging and wants to get older and pass on wisdom.
Shannon: What do you hope viewers take away from this 4-part series Women of This Land?
Stephanie: I feel incredibly fortunate to have had the opportunity to create this series, and to help share the stories of these remarkable women with viewers. My hope is that viewers find the series inspiring, interesting, and informative. I hope they learn something new and gain insight into the experiences of these women. Most importantly, I hope the series brings joy to those who watch it, uplifting their spirits and leaving them with a sense of connection and appreciation for the diverse voices and stories within our communities.
Check out the website for womenofthisland.com
